Thread: Whitebait debate

It is habitat destruction that is the important issue. Reducing the take won't make a difference if the habitat is not there for growth to maturity and spawning. On the West Coast a big issue has been an insecticide spray used on landcorp (and other) farms for grass grub which runs off into streams. It is a modern replacement for DDT.
On the SI East Coast many natal streams are devoid of tucker and we never see adult inanga anymore. Polluted with nitrates - black algae on the stream stones